Palworld has become the latest sensation among today’s youth, potentially claiming the title of the biggest craze. While its visual style has led to comparisons with Pokémon, many enthusiasts argue that Palworld draws more inspiration from another childhood series—Digimon.
In the realm of gaming, Palworld has unexpectedly risen as a champion, breaking records and establishing itself as a competitive title in a crowded market. Players often describe it as “Pokemon with guns,” though some believe Digimon has played a more influential role in its development.
On January 23, YouTuber ZackScott expressed his view on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Palworld has “copied a lot from Digimon.” This sentiment was echoed by others who observed similarities. However, some responses argued that similarities do not necessarily equate to copying. Digimon retailer ZeninTCG took a more positive stance, deeming Palworld’s gameplay ideal for a Digimon game. They criticized Bandai Namco for not creating a similar, original Digimon game and opting for gacha elements instead.
Meanwhile, on Reddit, Digimon fans were less pleased about the comparison with Palworld. Blaming Pokémon fans for constantly suggesting monster-taming alternatives, they expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing comparisons. The genre of monster-taming games has surged since Palworld’s release, particularly in the West, although it has been dominant in Japan for over three decades. Notably, Palworld itself is a Japanese game.
Drawing parallels to Palworld, Digimon has occasionally been dubbed “Pokémon with guns,” underscoring the striking similarities between the two franchises. Whether you lean towards Palworld or Digimon, both are trending, for better or worse, with the former slightly edging ahead in popularity.
